It’s been a whirlwind journey for two-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas since she returned stateside after the London games.

She’s met Oprah Winfrey, first lady Michelle Obama, and appeared on a number of talk shows after capturing gold in team and individual all-around competitions — the first American woman to win both in the same Olympic Games.

Douglas’ “victory lap” included a stop to Citi Field, where she threw out the first pitch of the August 23 Mets game against the Colorado Rockies to pitcher Robert Carson as the stadium applauded her appearance.

Douglas, who was born and raised in Virginia Beach before moving to Iowa to train, also posed for pictures with fellow Virginian David Wright — who is from Norfolk.

During the fourth inning, the 16-year-old Douglas told SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt that she never saw herself becoming a celebrity and has been adjusting to becoming an inspiration.

“I never expected that,” she said. “It’s a little bit crazy.”

Earlier in the day, Douglas closed out the Citi Field Kids Program and told kids that if they wanted to accomplish something, it was all about hard work and determination.

“Champions are made through the tough and hard times,” Douglas said. “You have to put your all into what you do and you have to love it too.”

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

EVENT of the DAY: Dunningham Triangle Visioning Day

Stop by Dunningham Triangle to share your design ideas with the NYC Parks Department and the 82nd Street Partnership. What do you like about Dunningham Triangle and how can it be made better? Tell them your ideas!

A former Little League coach of the year pleaded guilty to sexually abusing players on his team. David Hartshorn, a former coach at the Rochdale Village Little League, was arrested and charged in February with having sexual contact with three boys, ages 13 and 14, at his Rochdale Village home between July 2009 and January 2011. He was also accused of showing child pornography to minors and filming two teens engaged in sex acts. Read more: Queens Courier

Armstrong Drops Fight Against Doping Charges

After more than a decade of outrunning accusations that he had doped during his celebrated cycling career, Lance Armstrong, one of the most well-known and accomplished athletes in history, finally surrendered on Thursday, etching a dark mark on his legacy by ending his fight against charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs. Read more: NY Times

Mayor Offers Ideas for Why Homeless Numbers Are Up

Asked about a sharp rise in the number of homeless people in New York City’s shelter system, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg suggested Thursday that people were staying in shelters longer in part because the shelters were “much more pleasurable” than they used to be, making people less eager to leave. Read more: NY Times

Strippers look to GOP to ‘make it rain’

Many clubs have taken out ads inviting GOP delegates “to party like a liberal” in a city where the “poles are open all night.” City officials say the convention, expected to draw more than 50,000 visitors, could be Tampa’s biggest party ever. Imagine all those rainmakers. Read more: CNN

Olympic gold medalist Douglas throws out first pitch at Mets game

History-making 16-year-old gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas was on TV with Jay Leno and David Letterman. Sat and chatted with Oprah Winfrey. Met First Lady Michelle Obama. And yesterday she threw out the first pitch at the Mets game. Read more: NY Post

Incumbent Queens Senator’s endorsements are called into question as contentious primary nears

An endorsement controversy has emerged in a contentious Queens primary. The Daily News has learned that a clergy member and several unions that were touted on campaign material as favoring District 10 incumbent state Sen. Shirley Huntley are actually remaining neutral for the Sept. 13 vote. Read more: Daily News

The 11 year old from Astoria threw out the first pitch at a Mets game on Monday, June 18, in honor of the 10th anniversary of Starlight Night at Citi Field.

Rivera, born with cerebral palsy, was one of the 300 Starlight children and their families who attended that night’s Mets match-up against the Orioles. Aside from the game, they also got tfo enjoy a buffet and some clowns – and to show their fan-pride for the Mets.

“I felt honored and a little nervous going out there in front of thousands and thousands of people, but I felt honored because I’m representing my team,” said Rivera. “I threw my first ball and I’m really happy.”

Thirteen-year-old Broadway star Carly Rose Sonenclar, who sang the National Anthem, was there to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which “brings together experts from pediatric health care, technology and entertainment to create programs that help brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.”

For this year’s event, the Mets donated over 800 tickets and ARAMARK donated food to give to each guest.

Elaine Siver, executive director of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, was overjoyed at the sight of the children having a great time watching a baseball game with their families.

“It’s probably one of the best events that we do,” she said. “It’s a blast and we are so proud of our sponsorship, our partnership with the Mets. They’re kind and very generous with Starlight.”

Of Starlight’s mission, she said, “When you experience [things] through [the children’s] eyes, it’s really joyous to see, [especially since] we can certainly make their lives better.”